Removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material

ABSTRACT

A removable and reusable device is presented for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about the circumference of a spool or cylinder. The removable and reusable device includes a retaining element having an opening though which the stored material can pass and a flexible band attached to the retaining element.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/905,252 filed Dec. 22, 2004 and entitled “Removable and Reusable Device for Extracting and Retracting a Length of Material”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a removable and reusable device, capable of being positioned over a length of stored material wound around a spool or cylinder, that enables the length of stored material to be easily extracted from, and retracted about, the spool or cylinder. The stored material may include fishing line, rope, twine, wire, thread, or any other material that is stored by wrapping the material about a spool or cylindrically shaped apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of stored material that includes a retaining element and a flexible or semiflexible band connected to the retaining element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art includes many devices for fishing line reel assemblies that allow for the easy extraction and retraction of fishing line. The prior art also includes devices for use in the extraction and retraction of other types of material that are stored about a spool or cylindrically shaped device.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,100 issued to Belliveau discloses a device for use in unwinding or rewinding coiled electrical wire that includes a base adapted to rest on a horizontal surface and a coil holder rotatably mounted on the base and sized to accommodate the coil wire. The coil holder includes a disc having a top surface and a bottom surface with a wire guide projecting upward from the top surface and an axle with a circular flange projecting downward from the bottom surface. The axle of the disc fits into a mounting hole contained in the base and the base also includes a cylindrically shaped barrier positioned such that it prevents the wire from becoming caught between the disc and the base as it is being unwound or rewound. To unwind the wire coil, the coil is placed on the top surface of the coil holder so that it encircles the wire guide and an end of the wire is inserted through a hole in the barrier. A user than pulls on the end of the wire thereby causing the disc to rotate and the wire to become unwound. To rewind the wire, the user rotates the disc in the opposite direction.

In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,277 issued to Cielker et al. discloses an apparatus for the storage and withdrawal of an elastically flexible rope material. The apparatus includes a storage drum with the elastically flexible rope material nestled against its inner wall and a housing having a rotational axle for rotationally supporting the storage drum. The apparatus also includes a driving means positioned such that the rope material is acted upon by the driving means after it leaves the storage drum but before it leaves the housing. In one embodiment, the driving means is an endless driving belt that revolves over at least two pulleys where one pulley is relatively unrotatably fixed on a rotational axle and one pulley is driven.

With the exception of the device disclosed in Belliveau, most all of the prior fishing line reel assemblies and the prior art devices for withdrawing and rewinding material cannot be removably adapted to an existing spool or cylindrical shaped container that contains a stored length of material. Further, although the device disclosed in Belliveau can be used with any coiled material, a coiled material stored about a spool or cylindrically shaped container may require the wire guide disclosed in Belliveau to be constructed in various sizes depending upon the side of the spool or cylindrically shaped container.

Accordingly, there is a need for a removable and reusable device for facilitating the extraction and retraction of a length of material from a spool or cylindrically shaped container that can be universally applied to any size spool or cylindrical container containing a stored length of material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the present invention provides a removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material, such as fishing line, rope, twine, wire, thread, or any other material that is stored about a spool or cylindrically shaped member. The removable and reusable device includes a flexible band and a retaining element connected to the flexible band. The retaining element contains and opening sufficient in size to enable the length of material to pass through it.

The length of material is extracted by inserting an end of the length of material through the opening in the retaining element, positioning the flexible band about the circumference of the spool or cylinder and over the length of material stored on the spool or cylinder, and pulling the end of the length of material away from the retaining element so that the retaining element moves about the circumference of the spool or cylinder in a first direction. The length of material is then retracted by moving the retaining element about the circumference of the spool or cylinder in a direction opposite from the first direction.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the retaining element includes a first cylindrical member having an opening extending through its interior length and the flexible band has first and second ends that are attached to an outside circumference of the first cylindrical member.

In another exemplary embodiment, the removable and reusable device further includes a securing element positioned over the flexible band and the retaining element to secure the flexible band to the retaining element.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material includes a retaining member having an opening therethrough and at least one movable flap member extending from a top of the retaining member that is capable of being secured to a side of the retaining member and a flexible band member positioned between the movable flap member and the side of the retaining member.

The present invention also provides a method for making a removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder which includes the steps of providing a flexible band and connecting a retaining element to the flexible band wherein the retaining element has an opening contained therein through which the length of material can pass. In one exemplary embodiment, the method for making the removable and reusable device may also comprise the step of positioning a flexible securing element over the flexible band and about an exterior of the retaining element.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the retaining element may comprise a rigid, nonflexible material and the flexible band may comprise an elasticized cloth material.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to a specific embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings. This embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The subject invention is hereinafter described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the removable and reusable device of the present invention for extracting and retracting a length of material;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the removable and reusable device of the present invention for extracting and retracting a length of material shown positioned about a length of material stored on a spool or cylinder;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the flexible band of the present invention shown attached to the retaining member of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing a length of material passing through the retaining element of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the removable and reusable device of the present invention for extracting and retracting a length of material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is generally directed to a removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material that is stored about a spool or cylindrically shaped object. As shown in FIG. 1, the removable and reusable device 10 includes a retaining element 12 having an opening therein for passing through a length of material and a flexible band 14 connected or attached to retaining element 12. Flexible band 14 has first and second ends 16 and 18 which are attached to opposite sides of the outer surface of retaining element 12 with an adhesive, for example. Removable and reusable device 10 may also include a securing element 20 that is positioned over first and second ends 16, 18 of flexible band 14 and over the outer surface of retaining element 12 to secure the first and second ends 16, 18 of flexible band 14 to retaining element 12.

In the perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the removable and reusable device 10 shown in FIG. 1, retaining element 12 comprises a cylindrical shape having an opening which traverses a length of the cylinder and securing element 20 comprises a hollow cylinder. In this exemplary embodiment, retaining element 12 is preferably comprised of a rigid material such as a hard plastic or metal so that a length of stored material can easily traverse the opening contained in retaining element 12. The present invention may also include means for applying a lubricant to the stored material during the extraction and/or retraction of the stored material. The applied lubricant would enable the stored material to be more easily extracted and retracted from the object in/on which the material is stored. In addition, securing element 20 is preferably comprised of a flexible or semiflexible material such as soft plastic, rubber, or the like which enables securing element 20 to snugly fit over first and second-ends 16, 18 of flexible band 14 and retaining element 12 thereby securing the attachment of first and second ends 16, 18 of flexible band 14 to the outer surface of retaining element 12. Also, in this exemplary embodiment, flexible band 14 is preferably comprised of an elasticized cloth material so that flexible band 14 can easily rotate about the circumference of a spool or cylindrical object containing a stored length of material. It will be appreciated that flexible band 14 may comprise any flexible or semiflexible material that enables the band to be easily rotated about a circumference of the stored material.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the removable and reusable device 10 of the present invention for extracting and retracting a length of material is shown positioned about a length of material 22 stored on a spool or cylinder 24. In order to engage removable and reusable device 10, an end 26 of the length of material 22 stored on cylinder 24 is inserted through the opening (See FIG. 3) contained in retaining element 12. Flexible band 14 of removable and reusable device 10 is then positioned about the circumference of cylinder 24 and over the stored length of material 22 so that at least one of retaining element 12 and securing element 20 abut against the length of material 22 stored about cylinder 24.

In order to extract the length of material 22 from cylinder 24, a user pulls end 26 of material 22 away from retaining element 12 thereby causing retaining element 12 to move in a first direction indicated by arrow X. In order to retract a length of material 22 so that it is restored about the circumference of cylinder 24, a user moves retaining element 12 in a direction opposite the first direction as indicated by arrow Y. The present invention may also include an automated means for extracting and retracting the stored material. The automated means would use hardware equipment to perform the same actions that are carried out during manual extraction and retraction of the stored material.

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the flexible band 14 of the removable and reusable device 10 of the present invention shown attached to the retaining member 12 of the removable and reusable device 10 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, retaining element 12 contains an opening 28 through which the length of material 22 can pass as it is extracted and retracted. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the length of material 22 passing through the retaining element 12 of the removable and reusable device 10.

It should be noted that one distinct advantage of the present invention over the prior art is its capability to fit any size spool or cylinder containing a stored material thereby enabling an easy and cost effective means for accessing and restoring the stored material. There is no need to manufacture many different sizes of the device to fit the many different sizes of spools and cylinders used to store material. It will also be appreciated that the removable and reusable device 10 of the present invention may be partially or fully automated to a fixture that holds the spool or cylinder so long as the stored material is able to be extracted and retracted from the spool or cylinder as described above.

The present invention is also directed to a method for making a removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising the steps of providing a flexible band and connecting a retaining element to the flexible band where the retaining element has an opening contained therein through which a length of the stored material can pass. The method for making the removable and reusable device may also include the step of positioning a flexible securing element about a circumference of the retaining element to secure the flexible band to the retaining element.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the removable and reusable device 30 of the present invention for extracting and retracting a length of material. Device 30 includes a retaining member 32 having an opening 34 therethrough and at least one movable flap member 36 extending from a top 38 of the retaining member 32 and capable of being secured to a side 40 of retaining member 32 and a flexible band member 44 positioned between the movable flap member 36 and the side 40 of retaining member 32.

Flexible band member 44 has a first end 46 and a second end 48. One of the first and second ends 46, 48 may be permanently secured to one side 40 of retaining member 32 with a permanent glue, adhesive, or the like, and the other of the first and second ends 46, 48 may be positioned under movable flap member 36 against the side 40 of retaining member 32. Movable flap member 36 is then closed against a top of flexible band member 44 and removably connected to retaining member 32 so that flexible band member 44 is securely contained between side 40 of retaining member 32 and movable flap member 36 of retaining member 32.

Movable flap member 44 may have a pinching nonslip grip to ensure that flexible band member 44 is securely contained between side 40 of retaining member 32 and movable flap member 36 of retaining member 32. A bottom 50 of movable flap member 44 may be removably connected to retaining member 32 by a number of means including a releasable connection mechanism comprising part of retaining member 32 and located near a bottom of retaining member 32 where movable flap member 36 meets retaining member 32 when movable flap member 36 is closed, by friction alone, or any other alternative means that allows for a releasable connection. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, retaining member 32 may include two movable flap members 36 located on opposite sides of retaining member 32 for removably securing first and second ends 46,48 of flexible band member 44 to retaining member 32. Movable flap members 36 may also be configured to take the form of sleeve members located on one or more sides 40 of retaining member 32.

Finally, bottom 52 of retaining member 32 may be concave in shape to better fit against a spool or cylinder.

Although the invention has been described herein in conjunction with the appended drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications in the selection, design, and arrangement of the various components and steps discussed herein may be made. Therefore, the detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 

1. A removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising: a flexible band; and a retaining element connected to the band having an opening therein for passing the length of material therethrough and at least one movable flap member extending from a top of the retaining element.
 2. The removable and reusable device of claim 1 wherein the flexible band is comprised of an elasticized cloth material.
 3. The removable and reusable device of claim 1 wherein the retaining element comprises two movable flap members extending from the top of the retaining element.
 4. The removable and reusable device of claim 1 wherein the flexible band comprises a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first and second ends is positioned between the movable flap member and the side of the retaining element.
 5. The removable and reusable device of claim 1 wherein the movable flap member is capable of being removably connected to at least one of a bottom and side of the retaining element.
 6. The removable and reusable device of claim 1 wherein the retaining element comprises a hard plastic, a metal, or other nonflexible material.
 7. The removable and reusable device of claim 1 wherein the length of material is extracted by pulling the length of material away from the retaining element such that the retaining element moves in a first direction about a circumference of the spool or cylinder.
 8. The removable and reusable device of claim 7 wherein the length of material is retracted by moving the retaining element about the spool or cylinder in an opposite direction from the first direction.
 9. The removable and reusable device of claim 1 wherein the flexible band comprises a first end and a second end, each of which are secured to a side of the retaining element.
 10. A method for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising the steps of: providing a retaining element having an opening therein sufficient in size to enable the length of material to pass therethrough and at least one movable flap member extending from a top of the retaining element; connecting a flexible band to the retaining element by positioning at least one end of the flexible band between the movable flap member and a side of the retaining element; inserting an end of the length of material through the opening in the retaining element; positioning the flexible band and the retaining element connected thereto over the length of material stored about the spool or cylinder; pulling the end of the length of material away from the retaining element such that the retaining element moves in a first direction about a circumference of the spool in order to extract the length of material; and moving the retaining element about the spool or cylinder in a direction opposite the first direction to retract the length of material.
 11. A method for making a removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising the steps of: providing a flexible band having a first end and second end; and connecting a retaining element having at least one movable flap member to the flexible band wherein the retaining element has an opening contained therein through which the length of material can pass.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of connecting a retaining element to the flexible band comprises the step of positioning at least one of the first and second ends of the flexible band between the movable flap member and a side of the retaining element. 